WDW bus transportation problems

[lisapooh]

We've been getting ours offsite from Golf Cart Enterprises. Great for my adult kids but not much good for me because golf carts don't carry wheelchairs. So they go by cart and I ride the bus with dh or alone. And I agree they should split the Chip and Dale buses.

 

[Jenzebelle]

We just came back 2 weeks ago from the WL. A wonderful trip that was only marred by the bus issue.
The bus to Downtown Disney took well over an hour. In order to get a bus to another resort, we had to take a bus to the TTC and then wait to transfer, but almost every bus stopped at the Poly and the GF. Coming back to WL from any park meant a very long wait for a bus and then it was over crowded. And I mean packed to the gills crowded!
If I am spending all of this money to stay at a deluxe resort, well I want deuxe transportation service!

 

[Cindy B]

We've never had a problem.. We have stayed at All Star sports.. it has its own bus! I have noticed that Music and Movies has to share a bus, outside of MK!

Sometimes they go a little faster than usual, that is diffulcult when you have a child on your lap moving due to the crowd... I would love to see seatbelts for the toddler set.. but school buses dont even have seatbelts...

 

[disneyokw]

I have not read all the posts so I do not know if this was brought up. My entire family is hoping that Disney will eventually have a system where your room key is swiped through a machine on the bus that verifies that you are a Disney resort guest. If someone is having a guest stay with them, say for one day, they should be able to go to guest services and for a fee of $5.00 get a card for their guest for the one day. Disney will make extra money and they can statistically see how many outside guests use the Disney buses/monorails.

As a DVC member (OKW) we have seen the same problems at our pools. It would also be absolutely WONDERFUL if they would have key swiping to use the pools as well. But I do not believe that a DVC guest should have pool hopping privileges.

My family and I have over heard and have spoken to a multitude of people over the years who say they have been getting away with using the Disney buses, monorails and the pools for free.

 

[mloren]

Was there the last week of April, 2001. Stayed at PO-Riverside. Used the buses exclusively (no car) and was overall quite impressed with the service.

With the following exceptions ...

Morning EE service to the Magic Kingdom wasn't great. We were at the main (south) bus stop by 7:00 a.m. The first few buses that arrived were already close to full having come first from the French Quarter. Only a few people could get on at our stop. Buses didn't even try to pick up people at the rest of the Riverside stops. We just made it to Magic Kingdom by 7:30, but many others from Riverside did not.

This happened both days we did EE at Magic Kingdom.

Bus service was pretty rough coming back from Epcot or MGM after park close (close to an hour wait before we could get on a bus). However, given the huge volume of people all leaving the park at once, this is somewhat understandable I guess.

Otherwise I was quite happy with the bus service, and enjoyed the convenience of not having to drive.

 

[valeriekc]

I posted a comment about our problem with busing at Boardwalk and here is the link on the Disney Vacation club board http://64.225.125.24/forums/showthr...&threadid=36605

To summarize I think it is a very poor business practise to JAM CRAM & SHOVE ALL THE PEOPLE from the Swan resort, Dolphin resort, Yacht club resort, Beach club resort, The Boardwalk Inn, and the Boardwalk villas all on to one bus. SIX RESORTS ON ONLY ONE BUS!!!
Obviously I am a vacation club member and resent this poor treatment (heck WDW already has my money), but I am amazed that the guests that are paying expensive cash room rates are not screaming mad about having to put up with this.
It's not like Disney is asking the other resorts to share buses, most all of them have only there one stop.
Many people are watching there valuable vacation time slip away as they watch bus after bus pass them by at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Or worse yet having the bus finally show up and the line had grown so long the there is not even room to board so they have to wait even longer for another bus. And of course I'm must be crazy to think I might get to sit on my trip to MK & AK because the bus is too full after stopping at 5 other resorts first!!
One might think that since they are forcing all these people into these cattle cars that they might GET THE BRIGHT IDEA to add a few more to the route, Well nope, they even have fewer available than other resorts.

Two areas that we can't complain is to Epcot & MGM because we don't have to utilize any of the WDW Transportation, BECAUSE WE WALK!!!

I hope everyone that is subjected to this treatment complains and then maybe, just maybe WDW TRANSPORTATION can see the light.

 

[TracyK]

Disneyokw
It is not only resort guests who are entitled to use the WDW transportation system. Multi day pass holders are also entitled to use the transport.

 

[dcedwards]

Just wanted to let you know that I connected today with the Director of WDW Transportation. We had a very good conversation.

I gave him this website and he was very appreciative. He said he would definitely take a look at all the comments and continue to monitor the site. So that is great -- someone will "read" your opinion. We will see what they do with it.

In general, he said that yes they had heard "horror" stories of bus problems when they instituted the new system on March 25th. It was a basically a disaster. He told me the technology did exactly what they designed it to do...they just designed it to do the wrong thing.

He said that they have redesigned it and are now, hopefully, having much better luck with it. They recognize that there have been a lot of empty buses running around at the same time some are overcrowded. This system is suppose to try to cure that. He also told me that their standard is that no guest should have to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus...except at closing. If they do, then they aren't doing something right.

He also assured me that by the time I go in November that they should have worked all the kinks out of this new system. It should be running wonderfully by then.

Overall, I was pleased with the conversation. He seemed to listen to the suggestions that I had about the PO-FQ and PO-Riverside. At least he was interested. He was also genuinely excited to be able to get the address for these boards. He promised he would read them. I gave them the specific threads to read. They could learn tons....about everything.

So, I guess, this is one happy ending to an email sent to guest relations. They received it. Gave me an immediate response. Were genuinely interested in my opinions and wanted to learn more. That is all you can ask.

Now we will see if the bus situation gets better for those who have had horrible experiences. All I can say is that if you aren't happy you need to let them know. Hard to fix something if you don't hear that it is broke.

 

[dcedwards]

I sent my email to:

www.guest.communications@disney.com

 

[SCOTTNJ]

deb, thanks for pointing out to the director of transportation my posts titled just back, my one big complaint.

I did in fact write a complaint letter but I sent it to michael eisner so we will see if i get any kind of response. I already spoke to wdw-ride two times during my visit and as far as I'm concerned that is when the director of transportation should have addressed my concerns.

From my earlier trip to my recent trip, the buses went from being unbelievably reliable to pure frustration. My earlier post only touched the surface of the problems we had. I was so frustrated with the whole ordeal that for the first time in my life, I didn't already start planning my next trip. I decided i need a break. I still love disney, just need a little break.

 

[Eeyoregal]

Can anyone confirm/deny what TracyK said about non-resort guests being able to use WDW transportation?

<font color=blue>It was my impression that the use of busses, monorails, boats, etc. was an exclusive perk of being a WDW resort guest.</font>

Does this mean any person with a park-hopper can use the busses? If so, this is a huge part of the problem!!

 

[Gillian]

Multi-day passholders can use the transportation. They are entitled to park hop, and WDW transportation gives them a way to do this. I doubt this contributes much to crowds on the resort busses, which is what most of the complaints are about. Why would you want to take a bus if you had a car? We never have a problem getting anywhere by car, even leaving Epcot at the end of the day.

 

[Eeyoregal]

Actually, previous posters (on this thread and others) have mentioned encountering a large number of non-resort guests on busses who didn't want to drive to a park because of parking again, trams, etc. It would be much easier to park at a resort and take busses from there.

Apparently my impression of transportation for WDW resort guests was incorrect, but that really is one of the "perks" of staying onsite that Disney advertises.

 

[Gillian]

I remember at one time you couldn't take the resort monorail unless you were staying there, or if you asked nicely We've stayed off site a number of times, and it really is easy taking your car. We get there very early & often end up in the first row of cars! I could see parking at the Poly or CR & taking the monorail, but not parking at PO or the all stars just to take a bus.

We will be at the YC in the Fall. I am very nervous about getting to EE at the MK by bus. I will be writing to suggest additional busses for the Boardwalk area deluxe resorts. It is crazy for that many hotels to have to share!

 

[BlueFairy]

I posted on the Resorts board, but I have an additional comment about off-site guests. IN MY EXPERIENCE Disney has advertised free transportation as a perk for resort guests AND park-hopper/AP ticket holders (check out their official web-site). I have never had any problem as an AP holder accessing buses from TTC to DD, but that is the only time we used them when we stayed off-site. Obviously, no driver has ever asked to see my ticket or room key. If a resort bus is exclusively for on-site guests, then I agree they should check room keys since the resort buses seem to be a HUGE problem. As for off-site guests parking at the resort and hopping on a bus or a monorail, I think this is a horrible practice which Disney seems to be working on. In April we visited AKL and Poly for meals and each time were given a parking pass for a 2-3 hour window. Excellent idea!! I just hope they were out there checking passes to discourage people abusing the system. Just my 2 cents. . .
dcedwards . . . do you think it would be beneficial to start an e-mail campaign to the address you mentioned in order to emphasize the importance of checking these boards for complaints? I honestly don't have any recent problems to mention to them, but would like to help the masses in getting things improved before we visit again. Would it help for them to hear these things directly?

Thanks again for getting this going!

 

[Poly Pal]

Disney just can't nail down a bus schedule like ALL metropolitan bus companies can? I think alot of frustration would be avoided if they could get the buses on a schedule and publish it. At least people would know what time to be at a bus stop and when the next bus was due to arrive.

 

[dcedwards]

Blue Fairy-

The Director of Transporation assured me the would read the threads I told him about and was excited to find a site where he could listen in....he sounded sincere and I think he will continue to monitor this site.

I always encourage people to write down their comments. As a previous busines owner I often wouldn't know unless someone told me they were unhappy and especially if they thought I was doing a good job. But I encourage you to write. If it is about buses I'm sure the Director of Transporation will get the email. He did mine.

Poly Pal
In my conversation with him he said that they have been running on a schedule. This is what I am familiar with. While it has worked okay he said their concern was that some buses were running around empty while others will crammed pack. They are trying to eliminate the empty bus syndrome and provide...on time delivery..as some would say. They want to send the buses where the demand is when the people need them. He thinks they are getting better at it. If they aren't then "we" as consumers need to let Disney know it isn't working...and if it is...we need to let them know it is workigng. Hope that helps.

 

[lisapooh]

One final complaint. The new transportation brochures. Instead of giving full routes the just say things as take bus. Take boat, take monorail. This is great as long as you are at a resort that only has one option for transportation.
But for Ft Wilderness and WL, for example. Which bus? Where? No mention that boats are not accessible to guests in ECVs and Powerwheelchairs or manual wheelchairs unless you can get out and it can be lifted onto the boat by a companion. No mention that the ferry may not be fully accessible. If it is not to be mentioned in the standard guides then a transportation guide for guests with disabilities should be distributed. It is very fustrating to go to use the recommended transportation only to find it will not accommodate you and your equipment.

 

[BevS97]

I do not have a problem with non-resort guest using transportation. If you were at MK and wanted to go to Epcot it would be ridiculous to go back to TTC, get your car, drive to Epcot and repark etc, and I don't think anyone should be expected to do this regardless of where they are staying.

I also don't think you could get with parking at a resort rather than a park. We had breakfast at 1900 Park Fair one morning and we were given a 2 hour parking pass, another morning we ate at Chef Mickeys, and we did take the monorail into MK as we were only going in for an hour (our last day), and to be honest it really wasn't all that convenient - by the time we had taken the monorail all the way around the loop, and then on the way back you get off on the 4th floor and have to come down through the hotel, I think that the TTC would have been just as fast.

Just a few thoughts

Bev

 

[jkb]

We were in Disney World May 24-27 and had a terrible experience with the transportation system.

The average wait time in the mornings was 25 minutes. Too long a wait when you're anxious to get to the parks!
Also had long waits when leaving the parks in the evenings.

Now, I hope the Director of Transportation is really reading these boards because what happened to us needs his attention.

On Friday, May 25, we left our room at PO at 5:30 to take a boat ride to Downtown Disney. From there, we hoped to take a bus to the Polynesian for our 6:30 dinner reservations at O'Hanas.

It looked like it was going to rain, so the boat driver wasn't sure if he would be able to make the trip. We started out, but before we reached the half way point, he received a message to return to PO. There were reports of lightening, and so the boat ride was shut down. This is understandable. Better safe, than sorry. So we went to Plan B - take a bus to the Magic Kingdom, and then take the monorail to the Polynesian.

We boarded a MK bus at approximately 5:55, bound for the MK. Since we were in the POFQ, we were at the 1st stop in PO. The driver then proceeded to the 2nd stop. After that, for some reason, he didn't make any other stops at PO - even though there were 3 more to make. I thought maybe it's because of the weather. By this time, it was raining pretty bad.

After awhile, I noticed we were at Downtown Disney. Since I knew this wasn't the way to MK from PO, I knew there was a problem. The bus driver then announced that due to weather problems, we were going back to PO, and then to the MK. Of course, everyone wanted to know what was going on, because this didn't make any sense. Well, it wasn't the weather. There were passengers on the bus who need to get off at PO Riverside, and the driver had missed their stops. So, we all had to go back to PO, and then to the MK.

By the time we got to the MK, it was 6:55. We were on the bus, for 1 hour! When we finally reached the monorail station, the monorail for those who were leaving the MK broke down, so everyone had to get on the resort monorail. We finally arrived at O'hana's at 7:10. Although we were extremely late, we still got a table.

Weather problems are not under Disney's control, but the bus drivers are! This guy made a huge mistake and a bus load of people had to suffer for it.

Although this was probably a one time occurence, the transportation system still needs adjusting. Resort guests should not have to wait 25 minutes for a bus first thing in the morning. Also, when the parks are closing, the buses should be standing by. After all, everyone is leaving the parks at the same time, so plenty of buses are needed.

Next time, I will rent a car. That's what I did last year. This time, I gave the buses a try, but I won't again.